Ominous-sounding... The reviews of the M5 manual have been pretty crappy - good way to reduce demand. Also, dual-clutch gearboxes seem to hide some of the downsides of forced induction. Comes down to the point that those of us that love driving manuals need to keep buying them.

__________________

Daddy's Rocket Sled! _
Clarkson: "It is... pretty much perfect... Why don't I have one of these cars?"
Harris: "The saloon is definitely the M3 of choice."

I think they are just pandering to the public in regards to the manual. With most automakers shifting (no pun intended) to the automatic/dct type transmissions, my guess is that the manual will become a thing of the past.

My guess is that dct to manual sales are probably in the 4:1 area or more.

I think they are just pandering to the public in regards to the manual. With most automakers shifting (no pun intended) to the automatic/dct type transmissions, my guess is that the manual will become a thing of the past.

My guess is that dct to manual sales are probably in the 4:1 area or more.

really? when shopping around in the tri-state 80% of the M3's were manual. I had to look very hard to find a DCT. I really hope the manual lives on forever.

I'm guessing the take-rate for the DCT has gotten higher each successive year, as it's proven to be a good option, faster, etc. I'm sure sales of the early years were affected by bad memories (and reviews) of the SMG.

Think it will be a no-cost option on the new M3/4? The manual is a no-cost option on the M5. Pretty much a given that will be the final time it's offered in that car...

I'm guessing the take-rate for the DCT has gotten higher each successive year, as it's proven to be a good option, faster, etc. I'm sure sales of the early years were affected by bad memories (and reviews) of the SMG.

Think it will be a no-cost option on the new M3/4? The manual is a no-cost option on the M5. Pretty much a given that will be the final time it's offered in that car...

the SMG in the e60 M5 was also a no option. I guess with the M3 it "cost" more so they charge you.

I'm guessing the take-rate for the DCT has gotten higher each successive year, as it's proven to be a good option, faster, etc. I'm sure sales of the early years were affected by bad memories (and reviews) of the SMG.

Think it will be a no-cost option on the new M3/4? The manual is a no-cost option on the M5. Pretty much a given that will be the final time it's offered in that car...

that's one way to drive down "demand" for manuals, offer DCT and manual at the same price, effectively having manual drivers subsidize DCT development and production retooling cost.

Of course, if DCT consists of most of the orders, then it's the manuals cars that is a cost the BMW to retool and continue refinement and development. There's some type of business analytical numbers behind this. 6MT development costs has likely already been offset by now.

2. Initial DCT development just finished, and the E9X M3 was the first car outfitted with this. BMW had to recoup development cost, so those who really wanted a DCT, would have to pay up for it.

I think these are the same two reasons E60 M5 and the new F10 M5 offer manuals as a no-cost option...simply more SMG/DCT sales, and/or the SMG/DCT development costs has been recouped, or offset in the following generation models. The DCT at this point is in a maintenace/update development lifecycle, so this costs of this activity is significantly lower than it was in 2007-2013.

If you're cynical, from production cost perspective, it's easier to offer a cookie-cutter option than to continue minor developments and updates on a 6MT, and it's BMW's bean counters attempting to squeeze out the manual in future cars.

just my thoughts, I think it's 100% a business development cost vs lost sales trade-off decision. Likely BMW wouldn't loose any more sales from a DCT-only range, and that figure might even be compounded if you do offer a low volume manual and there's a cost of retooling the factory.

Ominous-sounding... The reviews of the M5 manual have been pretty crappy - good way to reduce demand. Also, dual-clutch gearboxes seem to hide some of the downsides of forced induction. Comes down to the point that those of us that love driving manuals need to keep buying them.

DCT offers superior performance, but I would guess that many (though probably no one on this forum) opt for it due to an inability to operate a manual transmission. It's difficult to text and drive a manual.

Ironically, for me, the fact that I don't need that last nth degree of performance and just enjoy the act of driving and shifting is what kept me in the 6MT camp.

It's a shame, but there is no doubt in my mind that manual transmissions will die off - probably in a couple of generations.